Sustainable Clothes That'll Give Your Closet an Eco-Conscience

Listen, nobody loves fashion more than we do. But in terms of pollution, the apparel industry is right up there with oil and coal. Every stage of the supply chain,—from growing the cotton (with toxic pesticides) to assembling the garments (in smoke-belching factories) to shipping the clothes (in gas-powered vehicles)—takes a toll on the planet, only for Americans to throw away an astounding 24 billion pounds of clothing and footwear every year. So what's the good news? Well, more and more brands are using organic or recycled materials. They're manufacturing in countries (like the U.S.A.) that have high standards for labor and emissions. And as you're about to see on Mindhunter star Jonathan Groff, they're doing all this without sacrificing the feel and fit that make clothes worth wearing in the first place.

Industry of All Nations alpaca hand-knit sweater

We love the clean, sophisticated oh-so-French design. What we love even more is that Veja ships its sneakers via boat to reduce emissions. It also pays factory workers overtime and gives four weeks of paid vacation (très French).

Veja "Holiday" sneakers

United by Blue was founded in 2010 with a pledge to remove a pound of plastic from the earth’s oceans and waterways for every product sold. So far they've removed over one million pounds of plastic and trash.

United By Blue ragg wool beanie

Patagonia is the poster child for sustainability and environmental activism in the garment industry. The company not only works with recycled and fair trade materials, they also sponsor programs to preserve wildlife, educate on ethical manufacturing practices, and send a clothing repair van zig-zagging across the country helping customers get the most life out of every purchase.

Aluminati Skateboards

Ninety-six percent of H&M's electricity comes from a renewable source. Every H&M store also has a clothes-recycling bin for customers. And by 2020, the Swedish retailer intends for all its cotton to be organic, recycled, or low-impact.

H&M T-shirt with printed motif

Surfing legend Kelly Slater's line of California casualwear will work only with suppliers who meet the tough labor and emissions standards in the brand's 46-page code of conduct. Because people are a natural resource, too.